There are moments in the life of an organisation that remind you exactly why you do what you do. For everyone at Ability Today and the Academy for Disabled Journalists (ADJ), witnessing the graduation ceremony of the VUKA Voiceover Academy in Nairobi, Kenya, was one of those moments.

The ceremony celebrated the graduation of seven students, four of whom are visually impaired, marking a significant milestone for disability inclusion within Kenya’s creative industries. Yet behind this inspiring achievement lies an extraordinary story that began thousands of miles away with a simple social media post.

A Journey That Began with a Social Media Post

In 2023, Moses Chiira, who is visually impaired and lives in Nairobi, came across a social media post promoting the Academy for Disabled Journalists’ NCTJ Certificate in Foundation Journalism (CFJ).

Like many disabled people around the world, Moses had the passion, determination and talent to pursue a career in journalism but faced significant barriers to accessing professional training and opportunities.

After contacting the Academy, it quickly became clear that Moses possessed an exceptional drive to succeed.

Thanks to the generous support of Blind Ambition, Ability Today was able to secure sponsorship for Moses to study on the Academy’s journalism programme. We also provided specialist accessible equipment and the support he needed to complete his studies remotely from Kenya, ensuring that neither disability nor geography stood in the way of his ambitions.

Watching Moses develop throughout the course remains one of the proudest moments in the history of Ability Today.

Not only did he become one of the Academy’s first international students to achieve a respected UK journalism qualification, he went on to demonstrate exactly what accessible education can make possible.

Living the Dream

Today, Moses is a working journalist at the Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), where he produces voiceovers, edits audio and contributes to national broadcasting.

Reflecting on his journey, Moses said:

“If you want to be a journalist, especially if you are visually impaired, don’t let anything hold you back. ADJ gives you a chance to turn your disability into an asset. I am living the dream.”

He also shared this heartfelt message with the Academy:

“I am so grateful to the Academy. It has given me more than journalism skills, more than resources, more than a student could ask for… you have always believed in me in a way no one else ever had. Your faith has been a major driving force in my career… You have been a blessing since our very first interaction.”

For everyone at Ability Today, those words mean more than any award or recognition. They perfectly capture what the Academy for Disabled Journalists was created to do: remove barriers, believe in potential and provide disabled people with the opportunity to achieve careers they may once have thought impossible.

Creating Opportunities for Others

Many people would have been content to achieve their dream career.

Moses wanted to do more.

Recognising the untapped talent within Kenya’s disabled community, he founded Vuka Studios and launched the VUKA Voiceover Academy, creating a new pathway into employment through professional voiceover, audio production and broadcasting.

The Academy equips disabled people, particularly those with visual impairments, with the practical skills and confidence needed to build careers in the creative industries.

The recent graduation ceremony celebrating seven successful graduates was more than just an event, it represented the beginning of a new generation of disabled professionals entering an industry where opportunity has often been limited.

For Ability Today, it was also a powerful reminder that education creates a ripple effect. One student’s success can inspire and empower countless others.

A Proud Moment for Ability Today

Grant Logan, Founder and CEO of Ability Today CIC and the Academy for Disabled Journalists, said:

“When Moses first contacted us after seeing one of our social media posts, none of us could have imagined where that journey would lead. We saw a talented young man with ambition, determination and a dream of becoming a journalist. Thanks to the support from Blind Ambition, we were able to provide him with sponsorship, specialist equipment and the tools he needed to achieve a recognised UK journalism qualification.

Today, seeing Moses not only working as a journalist at the Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation but also standing on stage celebrating the graduation of students from his own VUKA Voiceover Academy is one of the proudest moments in Ability Today’s history. This is exactly why we created the Academy for Disabled Journalists.

Our goal has never simply been to help people gain qualifications. It has always been about removing barriers, unlocking potential and creating opportunities that transform lives. Moses is the perfect example of that vision becoming reality. His success is now creating opportunities for countless other disabled people across Kenya, and that is a legacy every one of us at Ability Today is incredibly proud to have played a small part in. It proves that when you invest in disabled people, you’re not just changing one life, you create a ripple effect that can change communities and inspire future generations.”

More Than a Graduation

The story of Vuka Studios is about far more than one graduation ceremony.

It is the story of a young man who refused to let disability define his future.

It is the story of what can happen when someone is given the right support, accessible education and the belief that their ambitions matter.

Most importantly, it is proof that the impact of the Academy for Disabled Journalists extends far beyond the classroom.

Moses’ journey has come full circle from discovering the Academy through a single social media post, to qualifying as a journalist, to building a successful broadcasting career, and now to founding his own academy that is empowering the next generation of disabled talent in Kenya.

His success is not only his own.

It represents everything Ability Today stands for: removing barriers, opening doors and enabling disabled people to build the futures they deserve.

As the graduates of the VUKA Voiceover Academy begin their own careers, we look forward to watching their journeys unfold, knowing that the seeds of opportunity continue to grow.

Sometimes, all it takes is one opportunity to change a life.

Moses has ensured that opportunity will now be available to many more.

Ability Today would like to extend its sincere congratulations to Moses Chiira, the graduates of the VUKA Voiceover Academy, and everyone at Vuka Studios for this outstanding achievement.

Special thanks to Blind Ambition, whose generous sponsorship of Moses during his time at the Academy for Disabled Journalists helped make this remarkable journey possible.